Terminal strip



H. W. GOFF TERMINAL STRIP June 14, 1932.

Filed April 13, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY H. W. GOFF TERMINAL STRIPJune 14, 1932.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /Nl/E/vTo/P H.' W Gon- ATTORNEY Filed April l5, 1929 'ilei Patented June 14, 1932 HAROLD W. GOFIE, F GREAT NECK, NEW' YORK,ASSGNOR TO BELL TELEPHONE LABO- RATORIES, INCORPORATED, 0F NEWT YORK, N.Y., A CORPORATON O3? NEW YURK TERMINAL STRIP Application led April 13,

This invention relates to terminal strips or junction blocks employed tointerconnect electrical circuits.

In the telephone field, it is well known that for each subscribers lineterminating at an exchange, provision must be made for accommodating aplurality of wires which are employed in the establishment of telephoneconnections. In most instances such wires terminate in what is known asa distributing frame from which connections are made to a manualswitchboard or a mechanical switching device as the case may be, and inorder to provide a methodical and orderly arrangement of such wires,terminal blocks of various descriptions have been devised.

A common method of providing connecting means Jfor telephone wires is toimbed a plurality of contact members in a plastic mass of insulatingmaterial, with their ends pro` truding and providing some means forattaching the wires to these ends. Upon soli diiication, the contactsbecome rigidly set in position. Another well known method is to providewhat is sometimes called a p1leup, which comprises alternate layers otContact elements and insulating material, usually in the form ot blocksor long narrow strips, and means such as screws or the equivalent, Jforsecuring the layers together to form a unitary structure. Usually, suchterminal blocks are provided with a base board having a plurality ofperforations, one or more perforations being allotted to the row ofcontacts immediately above. A cable end may then be spread or tanned,and the individual wires passed through the perforations nearest thecontact members to which they are to be connected.,

It is the object of this invention to improve the equipment heretoforeemployed in interconnecting telephone wires.

This object is attained in accordance with a feature of the invention bythe provision of a box-like construction, two ot the opposite sides otwhich are of insulating material and are provided with a plurality ofrows of pertorations. These perforations permit the passage of contactmembers therethrough, a pair of oppositely disposed pertorations ac-1929. Serial No. 354,792.

commodating and supporting the same contact member.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision oit' a lockingelement comprising a thin strip of insulating material which passeswithin the box-like structure and through slots in the individualcontact members of each row. By this means the contact members orterminals are lirmly secured in position and may only be removed, forrepair or replacement upon the withdrawal ot the locking strip. rThisarrangement also provides :tor the distribution over the entire side ofthe box, of any undue strain that may be applied to any one of thecontacts. This strain distribution permits the use of a relativelydelicate side construction.

A still further feature of the invention is embodied in a novel tanningstrip which comprises a plurality of heavy wire strips or bars securedto a channel or trough-like mounting plate which constitutes the base ofthe box and extends over its entire length. The wire strips, extendingfrom either side of the box and perpendicularly to its longitudinalaxis, are provided with overlapping` hooked ends. This tanning strippermits an orderly distribution ot the wires and prevents them frombeing pulled away trom the terminal block. The superiority of thistanning strip over that having holes, is in that time is saved by havingonly to lay the wires in between the bars, instead ot having to threadthem through holes.

rThe invention will be readily understood from the following detaileddescription made with reference to the accompanying drawings in whichFig. l is a front elevation or' a terminal block embodying the featuresof this invention;

F ig. 2 is a side elevation of the terminal block shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same block; I

Fig. t is a section taken along the line 1l-4f in Fig. l and looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of another type ot terminal block to which thetanning strip which is a feature of applicants invention is particularlyadapted;

Fig. G is a side elevation of the terminal block shown in Fig.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of thersame.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4; inclusive, the two standards or side pieces10 and 11 are provided with a series of flanges which serve to confinethe main body portion oi the lterminal block and also to support it. l Al p o The two insulating strips 12 and 13, made preferably of phenolfibre are separated by the spacer 111 at their upper ends and by thechannel or troughdike member 15 at their lower ends. Screw bolts 1G and17 are provided at each end of the structure to' secure the lower endsof the strips 12 and 13 to the channel member 15, whereas screw bolts 18and 19 are provided to secure the upper ends of the strips 12 and 13 andthe spacer 14 to the bracket flanges Q0 and 21 respectively of the sidepieces 11 and 10.

The insulating strips 12 and 13 which 'constitute two sides of thebor-like structure are each provided with a plurality of rows' of slots,the slots in each row on strip 1Q aligning with the slots incorresponding rows in strip 13. Each pair of oppositely disposed slotsserves as a mounting for a contact element Q2, er1/h of which is sostamped out as to be provided with a centrally located slot and aprojection at each end to which wire ends may be readily secured.

A locking strip Q3 made of insulating material, passes through the'Contact slots of 'each row of contacts. The insulating strip 23 servesto secure the terminals in position 'and prevents them from beingaccidentally pulled away from the block when any undue strain is appliedto them. It will also be observed that by the use of this locking strip,any eitcessive pull that may be applied to a Contact will be distributedover the entire length of one side 12 or 13, depending upon in whichdirection the pull is exerted. instead of being confined to theimmediate vicinity of the terminal. This permits a more delicate sidestructure to be employed. Y

V'Velded or secured in any other suitable manner across the edges of thechannel member 15 are a plurality of equally spaced thin metallic barsor heavy wire strips 25. The bars 25 and their mounting element 15constitute a fanning strip. The ends of the bars Q5 are hooked and liein overlapping positions, so that wires to be secured to the terminals,can be passed between the h'or'iked ends but cannot readily come out.

A cable end, the wires of which are to be secured to the terminals 23 ofthis block. is brought towards the centre 'of the block and tanned orspread, the wires assigned to the terminals in a certain vertical rowbeing passed between the hooked ends of the bars Q5 nearest the desiredvertical row, and carried upward, each to its respective terminal forsoldering.

In the. event that a terminal is to be removed the screw bolts such as16 and 18 at one end of the block are removed and the support 11 pulledaway from the restof the struct-ure. Then the locking strip individualto the horizontal row of terminals in which t-he terminal to be removedis located is withdrawn. rlhe withdrawal of this locking member' rendersall the terminals in that row easilyV removable. The faulty terminal maythen be withdrawn and replaced by a new ene. The locking strip is againthreaded through the terminal slots in the row and the side piece 11replaced and screw bolts 1G and 18 made fast.

It is evident from the foregoing description that applicant has deviseda simple, compact, durable and practical terminal strip which providesfor an orderly distribution of wires and in which the terminals aresecurely locked but are readily removable for replacement or repair.

Reference is now made to Figs. 5, 6 and 7. A mounting bloclr madeof anysuitable insulating material is provided with two rows of holes orperforati ons, tapped in any desirable manner, with the holes in one rowin staggered relation to the holes in the. other row. The terminalelements 31 are each provided with a projection which fits into one ofthe holes in the mounting plate 30. This projection passes through thehole and a tab on the end thereof is bent over tightly to engage theunderside of the mounting block 3() as indica-ted by 32 in Fig. 6. Eachterminal element 31 is rigidly secured to the block 3() in this, manner.

The block 30 is also tappeti at regular intervals t'o permit the passageof screw bolts 33 which 'engage the channel member 3-1 and secure theblock 30 thereto.

Across the edges of the 'channel member 34 a plurality of thin metalbars or heavy wire strips 35 are welded, or secured in any othersuitable manner, which, as in the previous description, are providedwith overlapping hooked ends t'o serve as a tanning strip.

The entire assembly, so far described, is secured to a wooden mountingbase 36 by means 'of screw bolts 37 which engage the channel member 34.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In a terminal block, a box-like structure having two 'or its oppositesides of insulating material veach side having a plurality of rows ofslots, terminal members supported in oppositely disposed slots in saidsides of insulating material and an insulating locking member for eachrow of terminal members engaging each terminal in a row and locking themin their respective positions.

2. In a terminal block, a box-like structure having two of its oppositesides of insulating LTI Lees

material, each side having a plurality of rows of slots, a plurality ofapertured terminal members each supported in a pair of oppositelydisposed slots in said sides of insulating material and locking meanspassing through the apertures in said terminal members for locking` saidterminal members in their respective positions.

3. ln a terminal block, a box-like structure having two of its oppositesides of insulating material, each side having a plurality of rows ofslots, a plurality of apertured terminal members each supported in apair of oppositely disposed slots in said sides of insulating material,locking means passing through the apertures in said terminal members forlooking said terminal members in their respective positions, and an endpiece removable from said structure to permit the removal of saidlocking means.

Ll. In a terminal block, a box-like structure having two of its oppositesides of insulating material each side having a. plurality o' rows ofslots, a plurality of apertured terminal members each supported in apair o'r' oppcstely disposed slots in said sides of insulating material,and an insulating strip engaging the inner surfaces of said insulatingsides throughout its length and passing through the apertures in saidterminal members or locking said members in their respective positions.

5. ln a terminal block, a box-like structure having two of its oppositesides provided with vertical rows of slots, terminal members supportedin oppositely disposed slots ln said sides, a spacing element to whichsaid sides are secured at their lower ends and a plurality of tanningbars having overlapping hooked ends mounted on said spacing element,each oi said bars being disposed imme diately below one of said verticalrows of slots.

6. In a terminal block, a box-like structure having two of its oppositesides provided with vertical rows of slots, terminal members supportedin oppositely disposed slots in said sides, a channel member to whichsaid sides are secured at their lower ends and a plurality of tanningbars having overlapping hooked ends, each welded across the edges ofsaid channel member, at a point immediately below one of said verticalrows of slots.

7. A tanning strip comprising a base and a plurality of tanning barshaving overlapping hooled ends secured to said base and disposedcoordinately in both directions thereto.

8. In combination, a terminal block consisting of a box-like structurehaving two of its opposite sides provided with vertical rows of slots,terminal members supported in oppostely disposed slots in said sides anda Jtanning strip removably associated with Said

